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The new hearing before the North American Courts, in the process that confronts the FTC vs. Activision Blizzard and MicrosoftIt started a few hours ago. And so far, it’s getting quite a bit of information out there. After starting the FTC with its previous allegations, it has been Microsoft’s turn, which has decided to go all out. And it has done so by dismantling the arguments of Jim Ryan, the main opponent of the purchase, through some emails in which Ryan himself claimed to know that Call of Duty would not be exclusive to Microsoft and that it would be on PlayStation “for many more years”. . Thus dismantling all his opposition to regulatory bodies.
Along with these previous allegations, some witnesses have been called to testify. Such has been the case with Matt Booty, who has been questioned about controversial emails sent in 2019, in which Microsoft stated that it would not bring its games to the competition. However, Booty himself has claimed that this strategy waned. And the recent agreements with Nintendo or Nvidia demonstrate this.
Is Redfall similar to Call of Duty? What if Xbox has exclusive Call of Duty skins? These are some of the pearls that the FTC leaves us
However, the FTC is undoubtedly the one that is taking all the spotlights. In particular, for your peculiar questions. And it is that the competition regulator in the United States, the same one that has blocked the Activision Blizzard purchase agreement in that territory, does not seem to have much knowledge of the sector in which it is operating. Because it is not explained that they have asked Pete Hines, another of the witnesses who have been called to testify, if Redfall looks like Call of Duty.
PlayStation provokes Activision: If the agreement with Microsoft goes through, they will not have access to PS6 or exclusive hardware improvements
we are xbox.com
In addition, the FTC has asked him details such as whether his job consists of appearing in YouTube videos or if Redfall is an AAA. Although perhaps the most bizarre thing has been to see the FTC doubting about what would happen if Call of Duty will receive exclusive skins for Xbox… That is, if Xbox did the same thing that PlayStation has been doing all these years. As they comment some usersthese questions are “painful to hear.”
It is possible that these questions are intended to create a parallel between Redfall and Call of Duty, in order to defend the possible exclusivity of Activision Blizzard games. However, they are also doubts that a body supposedly knowledgeable in this sector should know in advance.